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neutering and crate training, really?

10K views 111 replies 45 participants last post by  InkedMarie 
#1 ·
Hello all, let's get the discussion going.
We are all familiar with the pro's and con's of these two highly recommended practices. So far, it seems that the most conclusive arguments for both of them lie in how awfully convenient they are for humans, either by modifying unwanted behavior by removing sexual glands and controlling stray populations, or by preventing destructive behavior and facilitating potty training by caging the animal. While these practical advantages are obvious, I fail to see how the best interest of the dog is considered. Agreed, dogs are very adaptable animals and will live the life they know, I don't think that they become miserable, but I also think that they could live more fulfilling lives by not being castrated or caged 8 hours a day.
Statistics show health benefits both for neutered and intact dogs, so let's try to not settle this debate with technicalities or quoting blogs. (They will most likely draw attention from the fact that hormones are a determining part in brain development, behavior and life of any animal.) As for the crating thing, I just don't buy the "they love it" and "its a den", they are just trained and accept their caged reality.
I want to read what you think, am I missing something? do you agree that most of what surrounds these issues is a lot of self righteousness and convenient justification of what better suits us (humans)?

P.S. I'm not against neutering or spaying, and I'm not against crates for training or convenience over short periods of time or travelling, It's just that I don't delude myself into thinking is the 'best' for dogs.
 
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#2 ·
I think you are right in fixing the dog being mostly for the owners good but I also think it removed the drive to run away and keeps them safe. I also thing crate training an animal is the easiest way to keep them safe, but also convenient. I will say this though, some dogs like crates. Some dogs hate them and there isn’t a way to train that out of them. Rory runs to his crate and naps in it through out the day when were home. He also spends 9 hrs in it when we are work because he hasn’t quite learned not to chase my cats. It’s also safer than have 2 one year old puppies wrestling unsupervised. Josie on the other hand hates her crate. She would bark for hours and escape any way she could. The instant we realized she could go 8 hrs without the crate and without any accidents, we gave her free roam of the house. So yes the crates are a convenience but I can say that without them, we would never had brought an 11 month dog into our house and put Josie and our cats at risk when while we were at work. Also when I was little, we had a family dog. My parents really didn’t know how to train him and when he got to big and destructive, he moved into our unfinished basement. That is the one single thing I feel guiltiest about and my parents do now as well. Unfortunately before the time of internet and crates, options were limited. So a crate for training temporarily and having in the house permanently if the dog loves it isn’t a bad thing. Neither is having a dog fixed if you never want it to breed. I have no idea what I would do with puppies and I never plan on finding out.
 
#3 · (Edited)
We've had both of these debates before. If you want to know people's views, use the search bar.

But if you really want to start it up again- Neutering is a personal choice. As someone who lives downtown in a city, my dogs interacts with other dogs all the time. I want my dogs to be able to be off leash in public parks because that's the only off leash space there is- and I have yet to find a legal off-leash area that allows unfixed dogs. I also can't 100% prevent either of my dogs from getting away all the time. We do our very best, but Neeka escaped a couple years ago for a few minutes because the neighbor opened our gate and didn't close it. That's what you get for living close to a lot of people. Maybe some people can manage unfixed dogs responsibly, but our dogs would get considerably less freedom if they weren't fixed.

As for crate training, SiSi was crate trained as a pup. It was mostly for her safety- like you'd keep a baby from wander around your house and killing themselves if you couldn't watch them. It helped with potty training as well. I think the biggest thing it taught SiSi was when to relax and sleep. She would have played all night and been stimulating her bladder all that time if we had let her. Neeka was crate trained as a pup, but I don't remember if she spent her day in there or not (I was 9 at the time). It is DEFINITELY her den/safe place. She goes there when she's afraid. We say "Bath time~" she runs to the crate. We pull out the nail clippers and she runs to her crate. Our rule is that no one touches her when she's in there, so she goes in there to relax when she's stressed. Sometimes she'll randomly sleep in there.

I have no idea what I would do with puppies and I never plan on finding out.
Quoted for truth.
 
#64 ·
I personally dont fix things that are not broken. such as neutering lol

Crates are a good tool. that are highly over used IMO

I want my dogs to be able to be off leash in public parks because that's the only off leash space there is- and I have yet to find a legal off-leash area that allows unfixed dogs. .
Where in toronto is there issues bringing intact dogs? I have yet to have a issue bringing both my dogs in to many parks, stores, dining, pawsway ect. due to them having testicles.
 
#4 ·
I personally think crates are way over used and many dogs are kept in them way longer than is fair to the dog. I realize this puts me in the minority here but that's my personal opinion & not meant as a challenge to crate users. I don't crate my dog but I don't object to sensible crating, meaning a few hours here or there. I get uncomfortable when I hear about 8-10 hours in a crate. We tried b/c I thought it was "mandatory" but I've found that to be untrue for our situation. I think, like most things dog-related, the number one rule is "Know thy dog." My girl has never been even slightly destructive and she's earned her solo access to the various rooms in our house. When she's left at home alone, which isn't that often, she's restricted to one or two rooms.

Regarding neutering, I support it wholeheartedly. When we are able to stop euthing perfectly healthy but unwanted dogs in shelters everyday, maybe I'll change my mind about that.
 
#5 ·
Spaying/neutering - Yes it is convenient and it is a personal choice but the truth of the matter is there are millions of dogs a day who are put to death because of the overwhelming numbers. To spay or neuter helps control the population and from my personal experiences does no harm to the dog. In females it often prevents certain cancers as well. I can tell you that the dogs I had growing up were NOT spayed or neutered and weren't as healthy as my dogs now who are spayed.

Crating - Recently, I adopted a 1 year old Great Pyrenees, she was kept outside all of her life with little interaction and no training. The man who gave her to me also gave me a crate, she had never been crate trained but low and behold after putting a nice soft dog bed in for her she was in and out of the crate. She would go into the crate when feeling overwhelmed or just when she wanted to laze about. Yes she sleeps in her crate at night. It's also helped with potty training. If used properly a crate is nothing bad. You don't think it's good my dog is in her crate at night to sleep? She loves laying there snoring away. During the day she is with me at all times unless I can't bring her with me, to which she goes in her crate but rest assured she gets 3-4 mile walks daily, she is played with, loved and taken care of and that is all that matters.
 
#86 ·
Spaying/neutering - Yes it is convenient and it is a personal choice but the truth of the matter is there are millions of dogs a day who are put to death because of the overwhelming numbers. To spay or neuter helps control the population and from my personal experiences does no harm to the dog. .
Numbers just don't add up here. According to the H$U$ (who would like for all dogs to be speutered) Shelters in the US euthanize approx. 3 million dogs and cats a year. So how is it that there are millions of dogs euthaized every day?
 
#6 ·
While I agree with the points that there is indeed a factor in both neutering and crate training that is convenient for the owners, they both also guarantee a level of certainty that does not exist otherwise. Not that there aren't people out there with unaltered dogs who've never had the chance to breed, but it allows for a very real chance of an accident. There's another post on here currently where someone has posted a picture of their new, unexpected puppy. Relative took the dog for a walk, dog got away, person didn't want to admit the dog got away from her so she never mentioned it, and a few months later...bam...an unexpected puppy. That's not too horribly uncommon, and especially for those who have female, unfixed dogs...well, you're the one that may end up with a surprise litter you have to take care of somehow. That isn't very easy for all.

Crate training? While I agree, I truly do not like days when Jax gets left in his crate 8-10 hours, I know the crate itself he does not mind. The first week I had him, my fiance was staying with me from out-of-state at the time so he did not have to be put in his crate during the day, but it was there. We quickly discovered that he likes it. He goes to it and will sleep in it anytime (and this is before I, personally, had begun putting him in it). For that reason, he has a large one currently but I plan to buy him one of the biggest. With that said, it really and truly is the best option for many people. He's torn the vinyl floor out of my kitchen on one of the few days I didn't make it home at lunch and I'd had him confined to the kitchen. Not only for the safety reasons mentioned already by others for the dogs, but I can't have him destroying the house. Previously, he'd gotten through a gate and ripped a hole in the carpet on the bottom of the stairs. He's not destructive, other than those 2 incidents when left all day. I simply can't afford that to continue. Because I now keep him in his crate all day, aside from coming home an hour at lunch most days and getting him to run in the yard, I let him sleep in my room at night rather than in his crate. And I really hope I get him to the point that I can trust him in the house alone, or at least in the kitchen again, but until then...crate.
 
#7 ·
I have some opnions on each issue, but they don't really matter in this context. To generalize, because what is best for any given dog is different, what is best for dogs is what keeps them in a home where they are safe, loved and well cared for. There are not enough potential, responsible, dog owners out there for all the dogs in the world as it is and there are certainly not enough potential owners with a "perfect setup" to house all the dogs. If people need to make compromises, due to the rigors of their own lifestyle, to keep a dog and take good care of it, I'm not going to judge them.
 
#27 · (Edited)
This!

At the moment I HAVE to crate, thannk doG my Dobe is crate trained otherwise I wouldn't be able to stay in a hotel while my house is being built OR I'd have been FORCED to rehome her to move into Military housing (which doesn't allow her breed). She doesn't get left in her crate more than 4 hours a day and once we move into the house, she'll have a carpeted basement with a COUCH to lie around in during the day while I'm at work.

As far as desexing, it IS a convinience for me, one I waited two years (until she was physically amture) for and put up with two bouts of Demodex mange to get to (she'd erupt a month before her heats) it wasn't about birth control, it was about putting up with the mess and smell of a female in heat as well as her repeat bouts of Demodex.
 
#8 ·
For the 1% of dog owners who can handle an intact dog(s) and zero crates at any given time, I say go for it.

Sadly most can't do it!

Otherwise we'd have a lot less dogs in shelters because we wouldn't have the 'oops she got pregnant'/'oops he jumped the fence' or my favorite 'I didn't think owning an intact male and female would result in them breeding at some point and now we have puppies' litters. We'd also have a lot less 'not housebroken'/'chews everything'/'keeps jumping on the kids' dogs dumped into shelters.

Would any dog choose to be intact, breeding all the time and never crated/confined? Of course! But really, my guys don't mind their crates, I've tried having them sleep loose and it doesn't work on our end since they just don't settle down. Even with the indoor/outdoor run, Storee will bark to get put to bed if I don't do it on time (she's very scheduled in her brain).
 
#9 ·
Spaying and neutering - I feel it is beneficial in some instances due to health reasons ... such as testicular cancer and such. I also feel the dog should be done growing and its growth plates closed due to hormonal changes from s/n too early ... as this can cause issues as well. There are too many good animals being pts on a daily basis because of unwanted pregnancies and uneducated owners ... sometimes just plain old irresponsible owners. If you are a responsible breeder and doing health testing and trying to better a " Breed " of a dog than I feel it is not necessary and that persons legitimate right to breed and to not s/n. I have had puppies from a wanted litter and the help of a reputable breeder ... it still is no picnic.

Crate training and living? - This one is close to home. I crate trained my largest dog and she did well until one day she broke out when I was not home ... injuring her leg. She did it three times and those times her jaws were so trapped I almost had to get a steel cutter to get her out. She just did not like it and I know I trained properly. I am with my dogs 24/7 with the exception of one or two day a week and I attribute this behavior to slight SA. She now has a safe room ... but still destroyed a rug and some wall insulation .... I have two small dogs who like a crate to go to for alone time ... and they were never trained by me to be in a crate :/ I also have tried to fix a dog who was crated form 4am until 3pm ... let out to eat and potty and crated again until about 7pm .... let out until 8pm or 9pm .... and crated again until 4am. This dog was almost beyond repair. He had to be re-homed to where he could start all over again due to horrible issues from crate abuse! I believe anything can be abused .... but if done properly it can be a life saver for some dogs who destroy things due to SA and such and eat objects that can be life threatening due to not being supervised.
 
#10 ·
Just because something is convenient for the owner doesn't make it bad for the dog. Kabota would much prefer being allowed to roam off leash at will, that's not happening. Not just for my convenience in that I don't feel like chasing my dog all the time, but also for his safety.

As to spaying and neutering? Sure, if we weren't killing 10,000 dogs PER DAY in the US, I'd totally agree with you. If every owner of a dog was totally trustworthy and responsible and every dog was totally trustworthy and reliably, 100% recall trained (ha!), that would be awesome. Unfortunately, we live in this reality where none of those things are true. Dogs like Kabota are born, abused and neglected then thrown away to die every day because the huge supply of oops litters makes every idiot in the country a potential dog owner. Why treat your dog right or get him medical care when there's 5 puppies on every street corner to replace him?

Beyond that, I've had and have healthy, happy neutered dogs, so if you want to go on about brain development this and that being more important than 10,000 dogs per day being killed simply because there are no homes for them, don't waste your breath.

Crates, meh. Some people seriously overuse them, like Kabota's former owner. They certainly aren't necessary. But if crates make more people willing to be dog owners and stay dog owners, fine. And if the dog likes resting in the crate, that's great. Muggsy loved curling himself into corners, behind and under furniture, etc., so I do believe the den thing, at least for some dogs.
 
#90 ·
. . . ..Beyond that, I've had and have healthy, happy neutered dogs, so if you want to go on about brain development this and that being more important than 10,000 dogs per day being killed simply because there are no homes for them, don't waste your breath..
Dogs aren't being killed 'simply because there were no homes'. There are many communities across North America achieving no-kill success and they could not do that if the case was that 'there were no homes'. MOST often dogs are being killed because the shelter system they've been given to is still caught in the 'catch and kill' mindset. Some don't even offer owner turn ins for adoption - straight to kill. That does not translate to killing caused by 'lack of homes'.

http://yesbiscuit.wordpress.com/2012/03/05/mas-security-camera-footage-documents-animal-abuse/

http://yesbiscuit.wordpress.com/

SOB
 
#11 ·
My two males are neutered, which gives them the privilege of free roam with the pack, on five fenced acres. It decreases the fighting over the bitches when they come into heat, and keeps them from having to be separated 6 months of the year.
One of the females is spayed, as she has to be ready for deployment anytime. If she were in heat, that wouldn't be an option. She is happiest when working, as the males are happiest when with the group, so I don't see how altering has made them miserable in anyway.

When the females are in heat, and have to miss training or calls, they run the fence barking like mad.

All of mine are crate trained, but none stay in a crate other than for transport or emergencies. Occasionally if one must be confined for a short period, I may use a crate. I see nothing wrong with keeping an intact dog, as long as you can guarantee no accidental breedings. I have yet to see a spayed or neutered dog create unwanted puppies.
 
#12 ·
Thanks for all the replies!
All personal experience on these topics is far more valuable than the dry facts that are usually tossed around. One of the things I like about this forum is how responsible are the members here with their dogs. I particularly agree with the 'know thy dog' maxim. It also seems that most agree with neutering and crating being practical solutions. Wouldn't it be better,though, to put the extra time and effort to deal with our dogs' 'issues' (or ours) without mutilation or confinement? I know not everyone has the time or will to do it, however if we take our dogs' overall welfare in consideration we have to at least reconsider our commitment to them. Just food for thought.
I never spayed nor crated any of my dogs and never had an issue or bad experience because of it (other than the strays roaming around when they were in heat). I also don't think that I'm part of a 1% select group.
 
#14 ·
Thanks for all the replies!
Wouldn't it be better,though, to put the extra time and effort to deal with our dogs' 'issues' (or ours) without mutilation or confinement? I know not everyone has the time or will to do it, however if we take our dogs' overall welfare in consideration we have to at least reconsider our commitment to them.
For someone putting on a front of being reasonable and open to discussion, you are making a pretty obvious demand for affirmation that you are "better" or more committed to your dogs than someone who neuters or crates.
 
#13 ·
I come from a country were -- despite the fact that countless people own dogs -- crate training is UNHEARD OF. I frequent a couple country-specific anima/dog forums and I can honestly say that I have never heard of a discussion about crating, either for or against it, simply because no one does it. Oddly enough, most owners (since there's irresponsibility anywhere, crating or not) still manage to control their dogs.

My family has had a dog for over ten years and we have never used, or thought about using a crate to keep her in while we were out and there was no one home. She was taught to stay in her 'area' (which is the kitchen and halls, mostly) and not come into the bedrooms unless invited, which she does perfectly. So although I can see how keeping a dog in a crate (especially if said animal feels safe/protected inside) can be a good thing, I can't ever agree with having a dog that -- for one reason or another -- has to spend most of its life locked inside a cage (which apparently happens often enough? From what I've read on these forums).
 
#16 ·
I have been a responsible owner for over 41 years now. I never had a dog s/n. I never kept them in a crate. I dealt with their issues. They stayed at home alone ... un-crated ... and intact. Never had a problem.

The big " But " IMO ... is that the " welfare " of our dogs also includes their " safety " and as a responsible owner ... that I consider a " commitment " to them. In all honesty ... my " commitment " to keep my dogs safe last week leaving them unconfined while I was not present entailed four vet visits in a 10 day period ... because they have never had any " issues " .... but " accidents " do and can happen. I put years of time and commitment into my dogs. :)
 
#17 ·
Mia is the thirteenth dog I've lived with (both my family's dogs growing up) and then I've had three dogs of my own. Mia's also the first one that is still not trustworthy to be left loose and I doubt she will ever be trustworthy left to her own devices. That said I don't really crate her but rather she has a large x-pen with some toys and a bed and such inside it. But there is no way that I'd leave her out loose. She is only 7 lbs but has put away a few thousand dollars in damages to various things.

My dogs are also both spayed. I seriously think all my female dogs in the future will be spayed. I'm hoping my next dog will be a male so I can leave him intact, but we'll see.
 
#19 ·
P.S. I'm not against neutering or spaying, and I'm not against crates for training or convenience over short periods of time or travelling, It's just that I don't delude myself into thinking is the 'best' for dogs.
Have you ever seen an adult dog go into a crate for the first time for travel? Imagine the stress and anxiety of being pushed into a box you're unfamiliar with, then having that box picked up and moved? I'd far rather my dog be accustomed to the crate before we need it for travel...whether that means we use it all the time, or just sometimes. Then there's the issue of the dog's safety as well. It's not a "convenience" to sleep at night. It's a need. People can't possibly have eyes on their dog 24/7. We can all puppy proof all we like, but there are always things we'll miss that could pose a danger to a dog. Or there will be dangers we can't remove 100%, especially if we don't live alone (ie: kids, roomates, etc). Tell me it's just a convenience for me and not in my dog's best interest to avoid intestinal blockages or electrocution from cord-chewing.

As far as the spay/neuter goes, people who have to deal with unwanted puppies hear all sorts of stories about how dogs mated in a way that was totally beyond the control of their owners. Those dogs can do amazing things when a bitch is in heat. I'm sure they can pass through walls and leap over the tallest fences or punch holes through steel to get together and do the dirty. Fact of the matter is that humans have proven their incompetence over and over and over again. Promoting spay/neuter is less about the convenience of incompetent humans and more about taking away any possibility of having to sit there listening to a person conjuring up excuses while trying to figure out what to do with these homeless puppies. I'm sure there are lots of people who are perfectly capable of keeping a dog from mating that will opt to spay or neuter for convenience as well, but I certainly wouldn't fault them for making a responsible decision to leave no room for error.
 
#20 ·
Speaking of mutilation, here's my dog back when he still had his testicles, 2 weeks before I got him:



Here's my dog today, sans testicles:



Oh, yeah, he was doing much better with his testicles, before I had him mutilated.
 
#21 ·
I did not mean any offense with that word. I meant its most literal definition of removing a body part or function.
I am also not demanding any affirmation of my 'betterness' or condemning anyone's wrongness.
English is not my first language, I'm sorry if my vocabulary is not 'politically correct', I'm still trying to tap into those subtleties. I have the bad habit of calling things by their name without implying the semantics that people attach to them.
In any case I am not looking to antagonize anyone, that comment was an attempt to provide a blunt perspective in order to rethink our approach, only if there is a different one more adequate.
 
#23 ·
thanks Canaqua! I appreciate it. I attribute it to the fact that I had to read, write and practice to learn it.
Also thanks to all that replied and provided insight on the topic by pointing out how sometimes neutering and crating is adequate if done sensibly, or under specific circumstances. I'm glad to see that they are not default measures.
There is an ongoing thread on the neutering debate, so I'll just recommend anyone interested to read on the function of sex hormones in the body. I think it is worthwhile to know before making a decision and it is often overlooked.
Some of you raised the security concern for crating. This is definitely a very valid reason, however, it also seems a valid reason to train your dog to follow the house rules. It will work in his benefit all the time, not only when you are there to enforce them.
 
#25 ·
Stop that. Not every dog can be completely controlled by training. My old dog was intelligent and very well trained. And couldn't be trusted around the garbage for the entire 12 years I had him. Stop implying we're all bad dog owners. I fail to see much difference between me keeping Muggsy in a small bathroom for short periods of time and other owners keeping their dogs in a crate. Sometimes, for the protection of the dog, you have to confine him. That's just the way it is.

And don't give me that "english is my second language" crap. you speak english just fine. "Mutilation" is not the right word for neutering. In fact, the correct word is "neutering".

Btw, I do know what sex hormones do in dogs, and in people for that matter. I know so much about it that I know it's not that big a deal to not have them in adult dogs once the growth plates are closed. Do your research.
 
#26 ·
Before I say anything on the issue, here's my situation - I don't have a boy dog, I've got a girl dog, who is spayed. I own a crate, but my dog is trustworthy enough that she gets the living/kitchen area to roam when I'm at work. However, she has been crated before, mostly when boarded and sometimes when it's necessary for me to do things in the house. She doesn't necessarily love it (when the door is closed, that is, because she wants to be with me), but she's not scarred by it, either. She generally sits there, waiting for me to let her out.

Anyway, most people today either live in the city or the suburbs. They have to adapt to living in close quarters with other people who also have dogs. While it may be "convenient" for the human to spueter and crate, it's also safer for the dog given the way most humans now live. Humans have adapted to their new environment, and dogs are adapting as well. And, really, whether a dog hates or loves a crate is partially decided by the dog. If the dog is trustworthy outside a crate, then that's fantastic. If not, then the dog is better off crated. Most crating takes place during the time that dogs are normally napping (in the middle of the day and at night). Most of the time dogs are not crated are times when the dog is most active (in the morning and in the evening). Seems like it works out just fine. If the dog doesn't mind (or actually likes) the crate, then why is it terrible to crate the dog when he/she would be napping anyway?

As for neutering -- there are medical benefits going both ways, but it's well-known that unaltered male dogs tend to wander more than those that have been neutered. It's primal instinct for male dogs to find mates. That's something that is hard to control. Some people can do it, but if you work during the day (which 95% of us have to do), then it's a lot safer for the dog to lessen that drive. Even if you don't work during the day, the dog is probably better off being able to go to dog parks and open areas that don't allow unaltered male dogs. In my opinion the dog is better off neutered if it means he gets more freedom in the end.

In a fantasy world where everybody has a lot of land and are able to stay home all day or take their dogs wherever they go, neutering and crating may not be as necessary. This is the real world, though.
 
#28 · (Edited by Moderator)
Speaking of language, you seem to be missing a key implication of the words "crate training". The crate is a training tool. We don't just stuff our dogs into a crate when we can't be bothered to deal with them then call it a day. It's not used in place of training. It's used as a tool to keep dogs from getting into trouble when we can't be right there to catch them and correct them. If they eat our boots while we're sleeping, they achieve their goal of getting a satisfying chewy thing which reinforces the behaviour. If they go for our boots when we're right there watching, we can stop and redirect them to something more appropriate to prevent them from forming the "satisfying chewy thing" connection with our boots. That's training. The crate helps to stop them from learning bad behaviours while we are unable to supervise. It helps to accomplish the training that you seem to think dogs come pre-programmed with.
 
#30 ·
I won't touch the neutering subject I will just say it was a personal decision for me after lots of research into the subject.

Crate training for me is a necessity. Would I like to one day be able to leave my dog unattended with free roam of my home? Yes. Is that possible today? No. Am I working towards that goal with training? Yes. My dog is 10 months old and still very much a puppy. He's very well behaved and trained for his age but that doesn't mean I would trust him unattended yet. To save myself damage to my home and to save the health of my dog I choose to crate train. I am very lucky that my dog can go to work with me or my partner everyday but we still need him to be crated while we sleep and while we run errands.

If I couldn't crate I wouldn't have gotten any sleep for the first few months of his life and I wouldn't be able to go out to places where dogs aren't allowed such as the grocery store or to see a movie. Sure crate training is convenient but it's also necessary to keep him safe until he is mature enough and trained enough to be left alone.
 
#31 ·
Before we purchased Mayday, we had decided to wait until 18 months then decide. So we researched, discussed, and decided ourselves what was right for us and our dog. We decided not to put Mayday through surgery for something that wasn't necessary. We felt the health benefits for keeping him intact were, while small, more beneficial than neutering. Our dogs do not go to dog parks and do not go off leash, so altering would have no benefit there.

I don't care if someone decides neutering is what is best for them and their animal and I think convenience or not wanting to deal with an intact animal is a perfectly acceptable reason to speuter. What I hate is being bullied for our decision to not neuter. We changed vets in Arizona after they told me I had to neuter Mayday and would not listen when I explained why at 13 months old that wasn’t something we were going to do just now. I've been told I am "irresponsible" for just owning an intact dog and that somehow my husband thinks his masculinity is related through Mayday's testes. I had someone follow me telling me I was killing puppies because Mayday is intact. I dislike the argument that I have to neuter my dog because other dogs are dying at a shelter. Mater is contributing to the pet overpopulation with his balls as much as I'm contributing to shooting statistics by owning a gun – not at all. Of course accidents can happen with either, but by being conscientious, diligent, and using some commonsense we can mitigate those risks.



As to crating, our dogs are crate trained because I think it's valuable for them to learn. They are also taught how to behave on a tie-out and in an outdoor kennel. Our dogs are rarely crated though besides at nighttime in an xxl crate next to our bed. We have a crate in the kitchen too, but the door is left open and they’re only locked in when we’re rotating dogs. We use dog proof rooms when we’re gone. When we move, this may change depending on the new layout of the house.
 
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